No place for smiles

[srwu_npc]

"Where we're going is no place for smiles", a certain sword said as the lift with Tsubasa, Hibiki and whomever else came to pay a visit descended. It went its way through an ominously long shaft, the sides of it seeming strange somehow... glyphs? Parts of an ancient tower? A strange design decision.

Either way, the lift arrives at 2nd Section headquarters. What awaits you now?


"Welcome!"

A happy welcoming party, apparently. Commander Genjurou approaches everyone to the sound of party poppers. There are even snacks!

"Tachibana Hibiki, welcome to the renovated headquarters of the 2nd Division Mobile Disaster Response Corps. And the same to you, members of Unity Group! I don't think you had a chance to visit yet? You really saved us out there, not to mention the city!."


"So... this is the girl who awakened Gungnir? How fascinating! What secrets lie in that body of yours?"

Who knew the renovated 2nd Section HQ is located under the Lydian Music Academy? Either way, you have an option to talk to either the commander, the chief researcher... or just enjoy yourself. It is a welcoming party after all, and everyone is invited.

Comments

[spearpunch]

[The school had all of this underneath it? And more importantly-]

M-my name! This is the first time we've met so how do you know who I am?

[srwu_npc]

"You're one of Lydian Academy's students, aren't you? There's a reason it is right above our heads."


"The reason being, the academy is actually a front. It is a legitimate educational facility but also a way for us to look for potential Relic users. It's very convenient."

[spearpunch]

[This is a lot to take in, and that's before Hibiki sees what Ryouko has in he hands too.]

M-my bag!

You went through my bag too?!

[srwu_npc]

"Ah, don't sweat it, Hibiki-chan. We're going to work together now, so..."

Ryouko moves in close, to shoot a selfie with herself and Hibiki.

"Let's enjoy the first day of our friendship!"

[spearpunch]

[So much for personal space. But more worrisome -at least to Hibiki- is that...]

But I don't even know your name! You read all my stuff but I didn't read anything about you! We might even like the same things!

[srwu_npc]

"I'm the brains of the operation, Sakurai Ryouko. And that big guy over there is Kazanari Genjurou, or as we like to call him - the Boss."

Ryouko takes a step back. No more invasion of personal space - for now.

"Hibiki-chan, there are two important things I must tell you."

[spearpunch]

[Ryouko-san and Genjurou-san. She'll remember that.]

Alright, I'm listening!

[srwu_npc]

"First thing is that you can't tell anyone else about what you discovered here today. The 2nd Section operates in secrecy."

"The second..."

[spearpunch]

[Not being able to tell anyone? That... might make things difficult with Miku. But Hibiki still nods.]

... The second?

[srwu_npc]

"Before I'll be able to tell you." Ryouko beckons.

"We need to remove your clothes."

[spearpunch]

E-eh?

[This face. Just all this face.]

[srwu_npc]

"Come on, hurry up. We're not doing it here, obviously!"

[tiger_ken]

...You know, you might show someone your appreciation better if they weren't put in handcuffs.

[Ken gestures over his shoulder at Hibiki.]

[srwu_npc]

"Ha ha ha... this is deeply regrettatable." The ninja from before takes off Hibiki's handcuffs with a single motion. Did he even use a key to do that?

"Please accept our sincere apologies. It was a necessary security measure."

[tiger_ken]

Hm.

[Some instinctual jealousy in his tone.]

So necessary that you didn't do it for the rest of us. But then, I suppose we don't raise questions of how a random civilian gained Kanade's powers...

[srwu_npc]

"Precisely. No offense but you don't really interest me. The 2nd Section deals with Noise and Relics, and now we have one that came to us seemingly out of nowhere."

"Two questions spring up now. The first is obvious: how? But the second is more important: is it dangerous?"

[tiger_ken]

The second depends on its user I'd say, and she seems... friendly enough.

[Yet another glance at Hibiki.]

As to how... well, she was... there. When Kanade...

[The memories flashed in his mind, the stadium surrounded and flooding with the monstrosities. And Kanade had moved to defend someone who hadn't run the right way...]

[srwu_npc]

"She is friendly now, but did you see her when Gungnir activated?"

[tiger_ken]

...Admittedly, no. Let me guess: Not pretty?

[srwu_npc]

"It's something called a 'berserk state'. You can probably figure out why. Hibiki-chan was able to control hers very quickly, but what if it happened again, hmm? En route to this place, for example."

[tiger_ken]

...And those hand cuffs would have been able to hold her?

[He can... understand this better now.]

[srwu_npc]

"Hold her? Oh no, not at all. At best only temporarily."

"But it'd buy others a few precious seconds to react."

[tiger_ken]

Enough to try and get out of the way.

I presume you've had troubles with such a 'berserk state' before?

[srwu_npc]

"Oh? Don't you know it's rude to inquire into a lady's secrets?"

"But here, let me reassure you - I don't think we'll have any problems with berserking in the immediate future."

[tiger_ken]

H-Ha...?

[Seems more like an organisational thing than a 'lady's' secrets...]

And... what happens now? To this... Hibiki?

[srwu_npc]

"We'll ask her to join the 2nd Section. She is free to refuse of course, but that'd mean a life of increased surveillance to make sure her Relic does not fall into wrong hands."

[tiger_ken]

And not knowing what'll happen if she goes into a 'berserk state' again... Not much of a choice, is it?

[srwu_npc]

"Pretty much. It's a deal where both sides prosper, isn't it?"

Ryouko smiles innocently.

"We're the ones who can help her most, and she is also someone whose help we could really use."

[tiger_ken]

I imagine the workload's been a lot harder on Tsubasa ever since Kanade died... How's she been handling it, in your opinion?

[srwu_npc]

"What do you think?"

[tiger_ken]

...I'm not sure. I hadn't approached her personally when she stopped by the base some months ago... but I heard she seemed distant. And then today, she said more when arresting Hibiki than during the entire battle...

Maybe I should go find her.

[srwu_npc]

"Do you believe you'll be able to help her, in the state she's in?" Ryouko looks genuinely curious, not sceptical.

[tiger_ken]

...I have no clue. Knowing my luck, I'll say something stupid, or I won't make my point clear...

But I at least have to try. Because I didn't last time, when I should have. And I... owe them, in a few ways. Plus, I was there the day Kanade died, so maybe...

[His eyes flicker all about, doubts in every corner.]

[srwu_npc]

"Oh that's right, you were there too. You should understand how she feels, then."

[tiger_ken]

A little, at least. I 'knew' Kanade for years, but only as a distant fan. But then, there's be a number of... others, to pass since then, so maybe I have a compound knowledge.

Wish me luck.

[sang_av_helten]

Truly this is a welcome I can approve of. A warrior's welcome indeed!

[Skald scampers over to the snack tables and does his best to scale them.]

[srwu_npc]

"I welcome all defenders of humanity, regardless of their shape or form!"

Genjurou finds nothing weird about a talking cat, unlike some of his subordinates who look surprised.

"Help yourself to anything you see."

[sang_av_helten]

And I am honored by your hospitality and am pleased to fight alongside those under your charge fellow defender of humanity.

I will make good on your offer!

[With that Skald proceeds to enjoy the snacks. Someone may wish to make sure that the ones he doesn't touch remain edible at the very least. Nobody wants to have to deal with cat hair in their snacks.]

[srwu_npc]

"With the Section rebuilt, we will be able to stand up to Noise more efficiently. It's worrying that there has been a resurgence recently. Are you aware that the Noise usually strike an average of once every 10 years?"

"Shall I get you a plate?" The ninja/manager person quickly runs damage control to prevent everything on the table from getting cat hair all over it.

[a_louse]

I trust you'll treat Hibiki well. She's a good-hearted and honest girl. Perhaps too honest, sometimes.

[srwu_npc]

"I will ask her to lend us her power. Don't you worry - only bad adults treat children poorly, or force them to do things for them."

"But now I wonder how you know Tachibana."

[a_louse]

We actually only met once, several days ago. The girl was looking for a missing cat.

Something about her earnestness made me decide to lend her a hand.

[srwu_npc]

"So you noticed it too."

"Her earnest spirit."

[a_louse]

I'm a negotiator. Reading people is my job. And it's not like she's very hard to read.

...Gungnir, isn't it. The name of her Symphogear. I heard what happened to its last user.

[srwu_npc]

"She isn't indeed! If anything, young Tachibana might be a little too earnest."

Commander Kazanari jokes around, but then his expression hardens.

"Yes..."

"It was a tragedy. But I won't lie and say what happened to Kanade was unavoidable. No matter how you look at it, in the end - it's ours, the adults', fault."

[a_louse]

Let's make sure it won't happen again, then.